SAROJA DEVI DORAIRAJOO

PhD in Social Anthropology, Harvard University
PhD Dissertation: “No Fish in the Sea”: Thai-Malay Tactics of Negotiation in a Time of Scarcity 

M.A. in Asian Studies (Southeast Asia), Cornell University
M.A. Thesis: “The Orang Asli of Peninsular Malaysia: Aborigine Yet not Bumiputera"

M.A. in Anthropology, Ohio State University

B. Soc. Sci. (Hons) National University of Singapore
Honors Thesis: “An Ethnographic Study of an Indian Family Firm”

Halal Crab, Haram Crab: Understanding Intra-Religious Divisions in southern Thai Muslim Society through the Lens of Food.” In Eat, Drink, Halal, Haram: Food, Society and Islam in Asia (Forthcoming). 

 “Chinese Fish, Buddhist Fish, Muslim Fish: Commercializing Ethnic Relations in a Thai Fish Market.” In The Lotus and the Crescent: Muslim-Buddhist Relations in Southeast Asia  (tentative title), Omar Farouk, ed. Singapore : Marshall Cavendish (Forthcoming).

“Gendered Lives, Gendered Narratives: Stories from a Muslim Fishing Village in Pattani.” In Life Histories from Southeast Asia, Roxanna Waterson, ed. Singapore : Singapore University Press. 2007

“Cyber-separatists on the Move: The New Wave of Separatist Struggle in Southern Thailand.” In Political Fault-Lines in Southeast Asia: Movements for Alternative Sovereignty in Nation-States, Vivienne Wee, ed. London : Routledge Press. 2007

Khao Yam Violence: A Survey of Some of the Factors Contributing to the Violence in Southern Thailand.” Asian Cultural Studies Journal 5(3):465-471. 2006

Book Review, “Globalization of Chinese Food.” Asian Journal of Social Science 34(3)538-540. 2006 

Book Review, “Terror in the Asia-Pacific Region: Threat and Response.” Asian Journal of Social Science 33(3):568-569. 2005

“New Developments in the Violence in Southern Thailand.” Anthropology Newsletter. March 2005.

“Violence in the South of Thailand” Inter-Asia Cultural Studies: Movements 5(3). December 2004

“Traditional Strategies for Economic Success: An Indian Family Firm in Singapore.” In New Place, Old Ways: Indian Society and Culture in Modern Singapore, Anthony Walker, ed. Delhi : Hindustan Publishing Corporation, 1994.

“Schooling Factors and Academic Success.” Proceedings of the Fifth Tamil Language Society Conference, Singapore, 1987.

National University of Singapore Academic Research Fund (2006-1007)

Embassy of France, Singapore Travel Grant (2004)

National University of Singapore Workshop Grant (2003)

Asia Research Institute Workshop Grant (2003)

National University of Singapore Academic Research Fund Grant (2002-2003)

Harvard University Asia Center Conference Grant (2001)

Cora DuBois Dissertation Completion Fellowship (2001-2002)

Derek Bok Excellence in Teaching Award (2001)

Harvard University Graduate Student Council Conference Grant (2001)

Harvard University Mellon Dissertation Top-Up Grant (1999)

Harvard University Mellon Grant for Summer Research (1996, 1997, 1998)

SEASSI Tuition Grant (1998)

Usha Mahajani Memorial Prize for SEASSI Student of the Year (1998)

Harvard University Graduate Fellowship (1995-1999)

Overseeing the organization of the First Inter-Dialogue Conference on Southern Thailand (FIDCOST). Initiated, applied for, received funding for, and executed this international conference with the Prince of Songkhla University and Harvard University (Anthropology Department) as hosts. (June 2002)

Organizing Workshop on “Eat, Drink, Halal, Haram: Food, Society and Islam in Asia.” Sponsored by the National University of Singapore and Asian Research Institute. 3-5 December, 2003 at the National University of Singapore. Included presentations by scholars researching on China, Japan, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Egypt. (http://www.ari.nus.edu.sg/conf2003/foodhalal.htm)

Participant and Principal Consultant, Management of Internal Conflicts in Asia, Collaborative Project of the East-West Center, Washington D.C.  (2005-2007)

Editorial Assistant – Ohio State University (Spring 1991)
Helped edit the volume New Place, Old Ways: Indian Society and Culture In Modern Singapore.

Fort Canning Historical Park Project – Parks & Recreation Department, Singapore (Nov 1987 - July 1988)
Worked as part of a three-member team to collect data on the archeology and history of Fort Canning Hill in Singapore. Conducted archeological excavations, historical and archival research and life history interviews with survivors of the Japanese Occupation of Singapore.

Introduction to Social Anthropology – Ohio State University  (Spring 1991)

English, Standard Malay and Pattani Malay, Thai, Tamil (complete fluency)

Jawi (Arabic-derived Malay script) (reading and writing fluency)

Japanese, Arabic, French (beginner level)